Long time friend of the site TheSpacebridge has shared an exceptionally cool slice of Transformers lore with us. This 20 minute video is a digitization of a VHS promo for the 1986 Transformers the Movie. The video features a recap of the story so far in Japan, with openings for each Japanese show and toy commercials for each. It also includes the American trailer for the animated movie, and the promo reel made with test footage, which features an alternate cut of Autobot City transforming into battle mode, as well as Ultra Magnus in his Diaclone “Powered Convoy” colors.
While this footage all exists online, we thought it worthy of sharing with you as the quality is exceptionally good. Check it out embedded below:
jamarmiller
cant wait to see this ! Please post it, I wish we could get all that footage from the Movie promo in DVD quality without ANY of the letters/words/subtitles in it. Along with all the animation from commercials too LOL
JonnyT
The complete and unedited version of the industry promo for The Movie actually includes a few more seconds of narration at the beginning, but this brief section has never seen a widespread release for fans.
The closest we came to actually seeing the full version of the promo was on Sony's 20th Anniversary DVD release of The Movie, but this of course specifically omitted the soundtrack, so really the full version still isn't available anywhere for the vast majority fans as of this date.
archieboy
The last clip, the Movie promo, looks like a Studio Ox production. Would have been awesome if they used this version instead.
TheSpacebridge
The tape came as part of a kit containing the tape, a booklet, a flyer & a large poster
I'll post some picture of the entire set soon!
Cheers
Hitch
walruslaw
It is a promo vhs tape titled "Transformers The Movie -Apocalypse Be Eternal, Matrix" which was released just before the movie was released in Japan
There is another movie promo with much of the same footage titled "Transformers Theatrical Version!! Video Finally Here" the only addition is a section devoted to a charity screening of the movie.
PrimeTarget
Hitch thanks for posting this.
Where did this promo cassette come from? Was it in VHS Format? Was it part of a press kit or something ?
Sovietbot
And why at the last moment at UM changed colors? Than the original from Diaclone have rejected?
Motor_Master
Merry Christmas and thank you for that wonderful gift. Personally I want 10,000 people to have this footage posted, so it's never lost or forgotten. It's funny, since getting back into Transformers back in 98 and all the time I spent scouring the web, I had never seen the original season 1 Japanese opening. Thank you that really made my night.
Yeah I caught myself butchering the Victory theme this morning going down stairs… it's quite the catchy toon.
Crimson87
DiaClone Ultra Magnus defending Autobot city…. in the form of a city Metroplex… Awesome!
Blitz.
that's some grade A nostalgia. what I love are those unused shots I'd love to get a hold of good quality versions and edit them in to make an extended cut. Could probably photoshop/after effects magnus into his correct colours as well and use all the footage.
MegaDolrailer
I've never seen that footage of Kup telling the Ik-Yak story. It actually has the Dinobots in robot mode, even Snarl is there!
Esquilax79
Always love the Japanese intro to Victory. Find it amusing that the final preview at the end for TF the movie was blatantly using the music from Star Trek III. And it was awesome that Autobot City actually did something against the Decepticons!
f-primusunicron
as far as i remember, some of those sequences where unicron is "digesting" lithone are not in the final version either, i might be wrong, but awesome that autobot city battle mode, i wonder if it is possible to add all the "extra"scenes to the movie without they being out of place XD
ZapRowsdower
Friggin' awesome!
Those head-changing toys from Victory looked cool. I've never seen those before… Kind of an awesome gimmick for the 80s… what the hell do we have now, again?
Oh yeah, "Flip Changers".
Quint
Just when I thought I knew and seen it all, I got a great gift for Christmas. That "Spacebridge" warped me right back to my childhood. Thanks!
Bnz Toy
So many of those videos, I have never seen before, thanks!
Also, all I got stuck in my head now is DIE-YA…….CRLUUMMMMMMM
TheSpacebridge
I also posted yesterday some Diaclone commercials in the best quality I believe out there
Take a look
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_BOj1Qqx0Q
Cheers
Hitch
Turnip
Whomever uploaded it first, I love seeing this old promo material!
Sprocket
I don't know if I'd call myself 'eager'. Just happened across the news post. Sorry if I came off like I was trying to devalue your contribution. Just struck me 'cause you're literally the first person outside of walruslaw I'm aware of to find and post Japanese Transformers promotional media.
Don't think I don't appreciate it.